Children's food has come under the spotlight, with chef Jamie Oliver criticising school meals and further claims that a vegan diet is bad for youngsters. Hannah Davies spoke to a nutritionist to see if vegan, vegetarian or meat is the best diet for growing kids.

Fruit and vegetables are vital for a healthy diet - something no-one can now be in any doubt about who has been following TV chef Jamie Oliver's war on junk food in schools.

But just as eating too much chocolate, sweets, crisps and fatty foods is unhealthy for anyone of any age, is consuming too many fruit and vegetables bad for growing children?

According to comments made at a recent science conference, a diet which excludes all animal products can be bad for children's health.

Lindsay Allen, of the US Agricultural Research Service, told a Washington science conference: "There have been sufficient studies clearly showing that when women avoid all animal foods, their babies are born small, they grow very slowly and they are developmentally retarded, possibly permanently."

Her research, carried out among African schoolchildren, suggested two spoonfuls of meat each day was enough to provide nutrients such as vitamin B12, zinc and iron which meant the children grew more and performed better on problem-solving and intelligence tests than children who did not eat meat.

The 544 children studied had been raised on diets mainly consisting of starchy, low-nutrition corn and bean staples lacking these micronutrients - which opponents point out is very different from a Western vegan's diet.

The claims have been hotly disputed by the Vegetarian and Vegan Foundation which says they are a "seriously flawed, unscientific piece of propaganda".

Famous vegetarian Sir Paul McCartney was so incensed by the claims that he made a rare telephone call to BBC Radio 2's Jeremy Vine show to slate the report.

But is having a wholly vegetarian or vegan diet any better or worse for a child than consuming one rich in meat? The Journal asked Newcastle University nutritionist and dietician Amelia Lake to look at the food diary for two days of two vegan, two vegetarian and two meat-eating children to see how their diets match up to nutritional ideals.

Amelia says: "It is entirely possible to bring up children on vegetarian diets, and this has been a way of life for many societies for many generations.

"But when parents choose to bring their children up as vegans, they should be aware of the potential nutritional deficiencies that their children may be susceptible to. The potential difficulties are likely to be getting adequate vitamin B12, iron and calcium.

"Studies have shown that deficiencies are usually due to poor meal planning. Being well planned and having an awareness of nutritional needs of your growing children will allow them to have a healthy balanced diet, free from animal products."

For these two boys it is really important that they have adequate calcium. They should ensure their soya milk is supplemented with calcium. Other sources of calcium include white bread, beans, lentils and chickpeas, dried fruit, tahini, green vegetables, nuts and seeds. The boys should continue to eat food enriched with B12, such as breakfast cereals and could also include yeast extract as part of their diet.

Vegetarian

Matty Conway, six and his sister Emmi, five, are from Roker, Sunderland. Their parents Ritchie, 43, and mum Elaine, 47, feed them a vegetarian diet.

These growing children need plenty of energy dense nutritious foods. In order to meet energy requirements, it is good to have meals and smaller snacks throughout the day, as Matty was doing, having a healthy mid-morning snack of porridge with soya milk.

It is important they have adequate protein. Sources include milk, cheese, free-range eggs, yoghurt, soya milk, tofu, beans, cereals/grains, nuts and seeds. Adequate iron is very important for them both. Having vitamin C can help the absorption of iron, so Matty and Emmi should continue having their glass of pure fruit juice with their meals.

Meat

Training co-ordinator Phil Hughes, 36, and his wife Helen, 35, a support worker, from Monkseaton, North Tyneside, feed children David, nine, and Michael, six months, a diet which includes meat.